The International Cham Festival of Arabian Horse

Damascus-On the occasion of the Evacuation Day, the International Cham Festival of Arabian Horse, entitled “Originality and Heritage”, was opened on the grounds of the old Damascus International Fair.

The opening ceremony witnessed artistic and folkloric performances by the Gelanar Troupe and a film was presented about the history of modern Syria, its ancient culture and the message of loyalty that the original Arab horse has carried through its long history.

The head of the organizing committee, Bassel Jad’an, stressed in a speech, during the opening, about the importance of the festival in highlighting the Syrian Arab horse and the unique qualities that it has  carried throughout history, which made its education to spread in many countries of the world according to the records of ratios and rules that preserve its originality.

“These generations in Syria have kept the Arabian horse breeding for its heritage and originality, “as our ancestors mounted the backs of their horses in the fields of glory in defense of the land,” Mr. Jad’an said.

In a statement to SANA, the head of the Syrian Arab Horse Association, Hani Makhlouf. pointed out that the festival is “a message to the world confirms that Syria will remain a country of originality and love,” noting at the same time the efforts being made to holding the festival in its first version with local and international participation of a number of horsemen and interested bodies in Arab horses.

In a statement to reporters, Minister of Tourism Mohamed Rami Martini, pointed to the cultural and humanitarian significance of the festival for the courage and authenticity of the Arab horse, pointing to the ministry’s support for festivals that promote the values of the Syrian society and its civilization.

The activities of the festival, which will continue until next Saturday, will include the Grand March of the Arab original Horse, the International Cham Auction of Syrian Horses and the horse race on Friday. The event will conclude next Saturday with a trip (Syria, the World) by the Syrian writer and traveler, Adnan Azzam, from Syria to Moscow on the back of the Arab horse, a distance of 5,000 km from Umayyad Square in Damascus to Moscow through Baghdad, Tehran and Azerbaijan.

Sh. Kh.